1a.) Locals. The Maryland Green Party (MGP) is organized as a confederation of “Locals.” The Local coordinates Green Party electoral activity for its jurisdiction. The following counties have Locals recognized by the MGP: Allegany County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Queen Anne's County. (Please see www.mdgreens.org for more information).

2a.) Seek the endorsement of the Local. All interested candidates must seek the endorsement/nomination of the Local that covers the jurisdiction of the office for which they seek to run. Candidates must abide by the rules and processes that the Local establishes for its endorsement/nomination.

3a.) The MGP C.C. The Maryland Green Party Coordinating Council (the C.C.) is the body that makes official decisions for the Maryland Green Party as a whole, subject to review at the Annual Assembly. It consists of representatives from each Local and yearly-elected officers. The C.C. advises that each Local utilize a fair and open process for making its endorsements/nominations.

4a.) Approval/Communication with BoE. The C.C. will review and approve all of the candidates endorsed or nominated by each Local. Once a Local communicates its endorsements/nominations to the C.C., the C.C. will endeavor to render its approval expeditiously, at the earliest possible date. The C.C. will communicate, officially, to the MD State Board of Elections, the names of all of the approved, and therefore, “officially nominated” MGP candidates by the Board of Elections deadline for a Certificate of Candidacy, August 6, 2018. This ensures that each candidate's name appears on the November ballot. *Only under extenuating circumstances will the MGP C.C. consider rejecting the decision of a Local.

5a.) Jurisdictions without a Local. For candidates who wish to run in a jurisdiction that does not have an recognized Local, the MGP Electoral Committee will review the candidate's qualifications and commitment to Green values, and endeavor to ascertain the candidate's support among Green Party members in that area. This may include providing the candidate with a list of Greens in his or her district, and asking the candidate to petition the Greens for their support. Alternatively, the candidate may register new Green Party members who form a Local that the C.C. comes to recognize. Ultimately, when there is not a recognized Local, the C.C. will render a decision on the candidate, and will act upon the advice and consent of the Electoral Committee.

*Extenuating Circumstances – The MGP C.C. may consider rejecting or overturning a Local's nomination decision only under the following circumstances:

Flaws in how the Local handled the process of nomination that rendered it grossly unfair, inconclusive or illegitimate.

New information about a candidate, of which the Local was unaware, that calls into serious question the candidate's integrity, commitment to Green values, or fitness for public office.

Evidence that the candidate engaged in illicit or unethical activity, or made a serious violation of Green Party's principles with regard to campaign finance.

2b.) Candidates for these statewide offices must submit an official MGP application to the Electoral Committee by this date March 30th, 2018. Concurrently the candidate must meet the MD State Board of Elections requirements for filing to run. The Electoral Committee will verify that each candidate has been recognized by the Board of Elections. At that point the candidate will be considered “recognized.”

3b.)

If by March 30, 2018, there are more than one recognized candidate for the same statewide office, the MGP C.C. will run an internal, Green Party PRIMARY for that race.

If by March 30, 2018, there is only one recognized candidate for a particular statewide office, the C.C. will render a decision on whether or not to approve of the candidate within four weeks. If they approve, the candidate is nominated and will appear on the November ballot. If they reject, there remains a vacancy for that race. The C.C. may fill the vacancy with a new candidate (who has not previously filed) up until the Board of Elections deadline for submitting the Certificate of Candidacy.

If by March 30, 2018,, there are no recognized candidates for a particular statewide office, there remains a vacancy for that race. The C.C. may fill the vacancy with a new candidate (who has not previously filed) up until the Board of Elections deadline for submitting the Certificate of Candidacy.

4b.) If necessary, the Green Party Primary will occur during the window of April 1st – April 30, 2018. During this time period, Maryland Green Party members will be able to vote to nominate a candidate from among the choices, with options for “None of the Above” and “No Nominee.” Maryland Green Party members include all voters in Maryland who affiliate with “Green Party” and additional individuals who are not able to register to vote, but who have been recognized as a member of the Maryland Green Party by signing an internal MGP document.

5b.) An officially-designated MGP Primary Committee will conduct the Primary. The Primary Committee will collect ballots by mail and at officially-designated balloting locations, with dates and times posted at least 2 weeks in advance. The Primary Committee will credential each ballot, verifying that it is attributed to a valid MGP member. At a designated time and with full transparency, the Primary Committee will open the ballots tabulate the votes.

6b.) The MGP will utilize Ranked-Choice Voting, also known as Instant Run-Off Voting (IRV) for its primary.

7b.) Barring any serious errors with the primary process, the winner of the MGP Primary shall be the nominated candidate and shall appear on the November ballot. If legitimate disputes over the process arise, the MGP C.C. shall render the final decision on the outcome.

Section: c.) Congressional Offices

1c.) Candidates for any one of Maryland's 8 Congressional districts shall utilize the same process and rules as the statewide candidates. However, the decision to nominate will rest with the Locals and Green Party members that live within the candidate's Congressional district. The Congressional candidates must meet, at least once, with members of each recognized Local that resides within the Congressional district.

2c.)

If by March 30, 2018, there are more than one recognized Congressional candidate for the same district, the candidates will be entered into the Green Party primary. They will be listed on a separate ballot and only those Green Party voters who live in the correct Congressional district may vote in that race.

If by March 30, 2018, there is only one recognized Congressional candidate in a particular district, the C.C. will seek the advice and consent of the affected Local and the Electoral Committee. The C.C. will render a decision on whether or not to approve the candidate within four weeks.

If by March 30, 2018, there are no recognized candidates in a particular Congressional district, there remains a vacancy, and the C.C. may fill the vacancy up until the Board of Elections deadline, with the advice and consent of the Electoral Committee and any affected Locals.

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